Michael Bisping believes win over Brian Stann at UFC 152 should get him title shot

http://mmajunkie.comHector Lombard may have complicated things in the UFC’s middleweight division Saturday by not only failing to live up to his hype reel, but losing to Tim Boetsch at UFC 149.

UFC president Dana White had said before the card in Calgary that he expected to have some answers about what will happen next in the 185-pound class after the show. But with Lombard’s loss, White said he would have answers in the coming days.

But according to Michael Bisping, figuring out who should get the next crack at champion Anderson Silva is easy.

Bisping (22-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) lost a close decision to Chael Sonnen in January, giving Sonnen a rematch with Silva, which he lost earlier this month at UFC 148. Bisping next fights Brian Stann (12-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 152 in September.

“Anderson is an incredible fighter – he’s the best,” Bisping told FUEL TV following UFC 149 on Saturday. “I want to fight him. I know (Stann does). I’m sure I could give him a better fight than what he’s had recently, and I’m sure (Stann) would, as well. Whoever wins this, we should get the next shot at the title.”

UFC president Dana White acknowledged that despite his loss to Sonnen, Bisping is squarely in the hunt.

“Bisping’s right in there,” White told a small group of reporters after Saturday’s post-event news conference in Calgary. “Bisping is very, very underrated because people hate him so bad. All the guys Bisping’s fought throughout his career … the guy’s without a doubt one of the best 185-pounders in the world.”

Whether or not that means title shot remains to be seen. Also in the hunt with Bisping and Stann are Boetsch, after his upset of Lombard, and Chris Weidman.

Bisping believes his fight with Stann should be the UFC 152 main event – not the flyweight title fight between Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson.

“In my opinion, and I think in most people’s, this is the main event. This is the real main event,” Bisping said. “Two big, hard-hitting guys. No one cares about little flyweights. Someone’s getting knocked out – it ain’t going to be me, though.

“I’ve been around the UFC since 2005, consistently fighting the best guys in the world, and I’ve done very, very well. I was robbed in the decision when I fought Chael. If I hadn’t been robbed there, when I beat Brian I’d be on a six-fight win streak. I think I deserve a shot.”

UFC 152 takes place Sept. 22 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto with a main card airing on pay-per-view and prelims likely for FX and Facebook.

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